The British Embassy and the British Council welcomed supporters of the National football teams of Ukraine and England and carried out the campaign Football Unites.

Football is the most popular and the most international game in the world.

Football teams and the immense army of football supporters unite people of any origin, race, gender or age.

Football is, indeed, the world’s universal language, the language of tolerance and diversity.

International football matches have the power to unite players, coaches, and supporters of different nations in the spirit of good will, solidarity, and mutual respect.

In the run-up to Ukraine vs England World Cup Qualifier in Dnipropetrovsk 10 October 2009, the British Embassy in Ukraine and the British Council, with support of the Football Federation of Ukraine, carried out the campaign Football Unites, aimed at cultivating contacts between football fans, intercultural dialogue, and friendly links between Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Programme of the campaign included the following events:

1-9 October, Kyiv, Ukraine

A series of radio quizzes “Fans’ Club Ukraine-England” on Europa Plus radio station.

9 October, Dnipropetrovsk

• Press breakfast for local media involving Mr Mark Perryman, Head of Fan Friendly Foundation, Mr Andriy Pavelko, President of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Football Federation, Ukrainian and English football fans
• Final game of the “Championship of Europe among the schools in Dnipropetrovsk”, awarding the prizes, communication with the British Ambassador and English football fans
• Visits to Dnipropetrovsk National Mining University by the British Ambassador and Director of the British Council
• Visit to a local orphanage by Mark Perryman and English football fan.

10 October, Dnipropetrovsk

• Wreath-laying to the Memorial of Glory involving the British Ambassador, Mayor of Dnipropetrovsk, Director of the British Council, Mark Perryman, English and Ukrainian football fans
• Fans friendly match between the English and Ukrainian football fans
• A reception for English and Ukrainian football fans.

If you want to find out more about the campaign, please read the Ambassador's web-diary.

If you want to see more pictures from the campaign, please visit the UK in Ukraine Flickr channel.